Islamabad: A day after Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan,
Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday insisted that the al Qaeda
chief was not in his country and asked the US to provide
evidence about his whereabouts.

Gilani said Osama was not in Pakistan and that there was
"no discussion" on the al Qaeda chief with Clinton during her
visit here.

"The US should provide evidence if they think Osama
bin Laden is in Pakistan," Gilani was quoted as saying by the
news channels.

Clinton told reporters yesterday that she believed bin
Laden was still in Pakistan and that it would be helpful if he
and other al Qaeda leaders were killed or captured.

Clinton has ruffled feathers in Islamabad by commenting
on several occasions since October last year that bin Laden
was present in Pakistan.